Transcript

00:00:01

>> While rallies and movements promoting an equal playing field have swept the nation this year, females of a different species are facing an even steeper uphill battle at the 2018 Westminster Dog Show this week in New York City. Reuters correspondent Stephanie Kelly explains.>> Data from the Westminster Kennel Club has shown that female dogs win about half as much as male dogs when it comes to Best in Show at Westminster, which kind of begs the question, is there a glass ceiling for female dogs in the purebred canine world?

00:00:33

>> Ahead of this year's opening day on Monday, there were approximately 500 fewer females than males in this year's competition, and some of the reasons why might draw the ire of female humans.>> Some handlers and breeders have said to me that female dogs can just be a bit more temperamental, a bit moodier, especially if it comes to, if they are what's called in their season.

00:00:56

>> This is a big deal for her.>> But it's not just moodiness that can keep female dogs from competing, it's often a matter of bad timing.>> A female dog's prime breeding age can be the same age as the dog's ideal age to go into competition. So a lot of breeders decide instead to choose to breed females instead of actually putting them in the ring.

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>> The best in show winner will be crowned Tuesday evening, and given the ratio it could be another rough night for female competitors.